Former Fox Network President Explains Why ‘Firefly’ Had To Be Canceled

With the recent buzzed regarding Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” re-airing on the SyFy network and the comments made by Nathan Fillion regarding his desire to reprise his role as Captain Mal, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had the chance to chat with former Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman to discuss why she had to cancel the now much beloved and cult status sci-fi series:

“Canceling ‘Firefly’ was as difficult as anything I’d ever been involved in because Joss and I had been creative partners at one time,” she said. Indeed, I remember seeing Berman sitting with a script and headphones on the set of a season two episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” “I worked with him very closely on this particular show and when it didn’t perform [in the ratings], having to cancel it was very difficult.”

When asked if she’d do it all over again:

“I might have reconsidered it but I’m not sure it would have changed anything,” she said. “It was a numbers things. It was a wonderful show and I loved it and I loved working with him on it but that was a big show, a very expensive show and it wasn’t delivering the numbers.”

And there you have it. What it has always boiled down to. Ratings… and the fact that it was aired out of order and then given the Friday death slot. Way to own up.

Source: PPG